Master’s Project Defense - Byton Simwela - Aug 4

Developing a user-­‐friendly Handbook for Agricultural Extension Development

Officers (AEDOS) in Karonga District

Master’s Project Defense

By

Byton Simwela

Aug. 4, 2015

Room: 130, Natural Resource Building

Abstract

Agriculture plays a crucial role in the Malawi’s economy; it employs 80% of the national workforce, contributes 39% of GDP and over 80% of foreign exchange earnings and smallholder farmers who cultivate on fragmented pieces of land largely dominate the sector. The importance of agriculture to the nation calls for a vibrant agricultural extension sector with competent extension officers to help the farmers improve their productivity. The field extension officers lack proper guidelines on how to conduct farmer trainings. The project study sought to develop a user-­‐friendly handbook on how to conduct effective farmer training and agricultural extension programing for the field extension staff in Karonga district. The handbook was developed in collaboration with a sample of 24 AEDOs and 4 subject matter specialists (SMSs) from other technical departments in the district under the ministry of agriculture. It was also based on literature and empirical evidence from the field of agriculture extension and education. A Sample of 15 AEDOs was oriented on how to use the handbook and was also given an opportunity to suggest improvements. 4 SMSs were also oriented on the same and their views sought to improve the handbook. Views from the project committee comprising 2 professors from Michigan State University were also sought and incorporated in the final handbook, which was be made available to the AEDOs for use.